Homebrew DSi hacking: everything you need to know about it and more

KirovAir · Oct 28, 2019

Technicmaster0 said:
There is a free option to run NDS ROMs on DSi/3DS: TwiLightMenu++. But many games need manual patches in order to work and it has (in some regards) less features. It's definetly worth it to keep it in the eyes but it might be impractical for your purposes.

I'd like to add that this option is currently a VERY viable solution to run roms. Compatibility is rising every week (@Robz8 is a beast) and you don't have to patch roms yourself anymore. While a flashcard ensures 100% compatibility for most users TWLM++ is more than enough. (Or at least until you find a game that doesn't work (yet)). It depends on your game library though but I haven't encountered issues in my library as of yet.

Technicmaster0 · Oct 28, 2019

KirovAir said:
I'd like to add that this option is currently a VERY viable solution to run roms. Compatibility is rising every week (@Robz8 is a beast) and you don't have to patch roms yourself anymore. While a flashcard ensures 100% compatibility for most users TWLM++ is more than enough. (Or at least until you find a game that doesn't work (yet)). It depends on your game library though but I haven't encountered issues in my library as of yet.

There are still many features missing like cheats, RTS etc (at least as far as I know)

KirovAir · Oct 28, 2019

Technicmaster0 said:
There are still many features missing like cheats, RTS etc (at least as far as I know)

Cheats are working fine, RTS not that I know of but I haven't tried that yet.

NightScript · Feb 9, 2020

Technicmaster0 said:
It can only be accessed from specific DSi ware games (and DSi ware normally can't access the DS Cartridge Slot).

DSiWare*

Technicmaster0 said:
There is a free option to run NDS ROMs on DSi/3DS: TwiLightMenu++. But many games need manual patches in order to work and it has (in some regards) less features. It's definetly worth it to keep it in the eyes but it might be impractical for your purposes.

1. TWiLight Menu++*
2. TWLMenu++ doesn't handle game compatibility. It's just a GUI. File loading is handled by each independent homebrew (so in this case, .nds files are handled by nds-bootstrap)
3. You don't do manual patches anymore. TWiLightMenu++ comes with .ips files which are then patched by nds-bootstrap.
4. nds-bootstrap has much more features than flashcards. Here's a list I made:

- Certain compatible ROMs are loaded into RAM, allowing for load times to be faster than even normal cartridges
- You can expand the VRAM memory bus to 32-bit
- Utilize the DSi's additional CPU speed
- Enhance your audio with 48khz.
- Use DSi mode, allowing for DSi features
- Using certain cartridges, you are able to use IR in your application
- nds-bootstrap is open source meaning devs can always update it to fix bugs and other things even if the "company" gets discontinued.
- DS Memory Expansion card is emulated meaning games that require that accessory will work

Technicmaster0 said:
However I wouldn't replace the DSi menu with twilightmenu++ as described at the end of the guide.

Why not? The official System Menu has a dumb 2GB free space limit, can't navigate your SD card and TWiLight Menu++ is mostly accurate. Only side by side would you see the differences.

Technicmaster0 said:
The famous moonshell media player doesn't work in DSi mode. You can use the RocketVideoPlayer (https://github.com/RocketRobz/RocketVideoPlayer/releases/) instead but I didn't test it.

Why did you list RocketVideoPlayer separate from all the other homebrew? It does seem a bit inconsistent

Technicmaster0 said:
GBA

you can also play GBA games with gbarunner2 on a hacked DSi.

GBARunner2

The way this is worded make it seem as if GBARunner2 is a DSi Mode application. It's a DS Mode one, ran with nds-bootstrap

Technicmaster0 said:
I made a (not much used) spreadsheet for DSi Mode Homebrew Compatibility a while back. Feel free to look if you find anything that you want to play or add games you tested: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1x7Z2rz3XObOCLIZOX9vbT0PDKFkKIxkkwyaTP3dRYKw/edit?usp=sharing

I don't think this list is necessary, since it just boils down to "was this made for DSi homebrew"

banjo2 · Feb 9, 2020

maorninja said:
Why not? The official System Menu has a dumb 2GB free space limit, can't navigate your SD card and TWiLight Menu++ is mostly accurate. Only side by side would you see the differences.

Save files and DSiWare already on the system, and the novelty of having homebrew installed to your system menu, albeit just an SDNAND.

Technicmaster0 · Feb 9, 2020

Thanks for the suggestions. I've included some of them into the post while I left others out. Please also keep in mind that the post is a few months old - some things have changed since then and I don't have time for the next days to rework the whole post (and I'll probably forget it until I have time again).

maorninja said:
1. TWiLight Menu++*
2. TWLMenu++ doesn't handle game compatibility. It's just a GUI. File loading is handled by each independent homebrew (so in this case, .nds files are handled by nds-bootstrap)
3. You don't do manual patches anymore. TWiLightMenu++ comes with .ips files which are then patched by nds-bootstrap.
4. nds-bootstrap has much more features than flashcards. Here's a list I made:

a) Certain compatible ROMs are loaded into RAM, allowing for load times to be faster than even normal cartridges
b) You can expand the VRAM memory bus to 32-bit
c) Utilize the DSi's additional CPU speed
d) Enhance your audio with 48khz.
e) Use DSi mode, allowing for DSi features
f) Using certain cartridges, you are able to use IR in your application
g) nds-bootstrap is open source meaning devs can always update it to fix bugs and other things even if the "company" gets discontinued.
h) DS Memory Expansion card is emulated meaning games that require that accessory will work

1. The repo and the releases don't have the space
2. The menu includes nds-bootstrap. I'm talking about the complete package (which is relevant for the end user).
3. Thanks, I've removed that part.
4.
a) But the whole menu is slower so no real advantage
b) does it work with all apps?
c) see b)
d) see b)
e) The iEvo can do that, too
f) There are no applications that use it so no advantage for the enduser (apart from retail pokemon games which you need to use it anyways) and probably no libs to support IR.
g) Most kernels are good as they are. In addition to that you'd need a dedicated dev and it's easier to get good devs if you pay them.
h) Only useful for 1 retail game

maorninja said:
Why not? The official System Menu has a dumb 2GB free space limit, can't navigate your SD card and TWiLight Menu++ is mostly accurate. Only side by side would you see the differences.
Why did you list RocketVideoPlayer separate from all the other homebrew? It does seem a bit inconsistent

The way this is worded make it seem as if GBARunner2 is a DSi Mode application. It's a DS Mode one, ran with nds-bootstrap

Because Twilightmenu++ is buggier, slower, more complicated and less intuitive.
I think that I only linked RocketVideoPlayer and a mod added the other links after that. But I'm not sure - it's been a while

maorninja said:
I don't think this list is necessary, since it just boils down to "was this made for DSi homebrew"

Well, that's your personal opinion. I disagree. It doesn't do any harm and some iEvo users might have a use for it - or people experiencing bugs with twilightmenu++ and older dsi mode homebrew who don't know why.[/QUOTE]

RocketRobz · Feb 9, 2020

Don't forget there's the MPEG4Player by Gericom.
It's way better than the Rocket Video Player (despite the slightly lower, but still good video quality

).

Technicmaster0 · Feb 10, 2020

Robz8 said:
Don't forget there's the MPEG4Player by Gericom.
It's way better than the Rocket Video Player (despite the slightly lower, but still good video quality ).

Thanks, I added the link to the post.

Ulieq · Apr 16, 2020

so...vs using r4 card what is the benefits?

banjo2 · Apr 17, 2020

Ulieq said:
so...vs using r4 card what is the benefits?

DSi Mode games/homebrew and DSiWare
No chance of getting a timebomb (assuming "R4" isn't necessarily referring to the original device)
Being in active development, meaning new features like WPA in DS games could come
It's free, assuming you already have an SD card
Some games perform better in DSi Mode

NightScript · Apr 17, 2020

Technicmaster0 said:
Because Twilightmenu++ is buggier, slower, more complicated and less intuitive.

Technicmaster0 said:
a) But the whole menu is slower so no real advantage

The menu is definitely not slower. If it is for you, turn off box art caching.

Technicmaster0 said:
b) does it work with all apps?

Yes. Games that use 32-bit VRAM writes are quicker (source: Gericom on DS(i) Mode Hacking).

Technicmaster0 said:
c) see b)

No, but for the games that do, it's a godsend. MKDS runs better on nds-bootstrap than official cart

Technicmaster0 said:
d) see b)

Yes. Games sound much better with 42khz sound. Zense made multiple comparisons

Technicmaster0 said:
e) The iEvo can do that, too

Is the iEvo free? Is it still produced?

Technicmaster0 said:
h) Only useful for 1 retail game

Homebrew can use it too.

Technicmaster0 · Apr 17, 2020

maorninja said:
The menu is definitely not slower. If it is for you, turn off box art caching.

It loads when you change the folder. That's maybe not slower than the r4isdhc.com or r4i-sdhc.com kernel, but it's much slower than wood r4.

maorninja said:
No, but for the games that do, it's a godsend. MKDS runs better on nds-bootstrap than official cart

But it's not user friendly that you have to fiddle with the (hidden) settings for most games. In addition to that compatibility is mediocre without fiddling with the settings (okay, maybe mediocre is exaggerated but there are still many problems with screen flickering, audio dissortions etc) and there are still many problems if you play with the settings.

maorninja said:
Is the iEvo free? Is it still produced?

No and no. But I tested 2 TWL games, one DSi enhanced and one DSi exclusive, and both didn't work at all with TWLMenu*. (system flaaw EUR and the biggest loser EUR). I tested that maybe 2 weeks ago. It's up to the user if it's worth it.
*The biggest loser actually worked in DS mode

maorninja said:
Homebrew can use it too.

Well I haven't tested this feature for homebrew yet but I imagine that serveral homebrews that can use it will have problems because TWL's homebrew compatibility isn't good anyways (according to the official compatibility list). Anyways it's a nice feature.

RocketRobz · Apr 18, 2020

Technicmaster0 said:
It loads when you change the folder. That's maybe not slower than the r4isdhc.com or r4i-sdhc.com kernel, but it's much slower than wood r4.

You can switch to either the R4 or Acekard/Wood themes, which the latter is based on the actual WoodR4 GUI code.
If the game booting is slow, you can turn on "Save FAT table cache", if your SD card is 32GB or lower.

But it's not user friendly that you have to fiddle with the (hidden) settings for most games. In addition to that compatibility is mediocre without fiddling with the settings (okay, maybe mediocre is exaggerated but there are still many problems with screen flickering, audio dissortions etc) and there are still many problems if you play with the settings.

Thankfully, you don't need to manually change settings for many games.

No and no. But I tested 2 TWL games, one DSi enhanced and one DSi exclusive, and both didn't work at all with TWLMenu*. (system flaaw EUR and the biggest loser EUR). I tested that maybe 2 weeks ago. It's up to the user if it's worth it.
*The biggest loser actually worked in DS mode

Yep. DSi mode still doesn't work, and we've heard nothing from shutterbug2000 himself, who got it to work months ago.

Technicmaster0 · Apr 18, 2020

Robz8 said:
Thankfully, you don't need to manually change settings for many games.

Out of the 12 DS games I tested only 8 worked completely flawless. Two required me to deactivate heap shrink manually to run and two had other problems (screen flickering and audio dissortions). I mean it depends on how you understand "many" but back in the days people complained if one or two games didn't work with their flashcart. The R4i Gold 3DS Plus supports every game that's out there (as far as I know).

RocketRobz · Apr 18, 2020

Technicmaster0 said:
Out of the 12 DS games I tested only 8 worked completely flawless. Two required me to deactivate heap shrink manually to run and two had other problems (screen flickering and audio dissortions). I mean it depends on how you understand "many" but back in the days people complained if one or two games didn't work with their flashcart. The R4i Gold 3DS Plus supports every game that's out there (as far as I know).

What are those 2 games that required to deactivate heap shrink?

Technicmaster0 · Apr 18, 2020

Robz8 said:
What are those 2 games that required to deactivate heap shrink?

American Dragon and Transformers 2: Decepticons. Both in the EUR version.

RocketRobz · Apr 18, 2020

Technicmaster0 said:
American Dragon and Transformers 2: Decepticons. Both in the EUR version.

Thank you! Heap Shrink will automatically be disabled for these games in the next version.

Ziggy007 · Jan 6, 2021

Hi, Been doing SD card Homebrew on my DSi XL, works just fine. I recently purchased a Japan version DSi . Will the SD card Homebrew setup work on a Japanese DSI? Thank you

Pk11 · Jan 6, 2021

Ziggy007 said:
Hi, Been doing SD card Homebrew on my DSi XL, works just fine. I recently purchased a Japan version DSi . Will the SD card Homebrew setup work on a Japanese DSI? Thank you

hiyaCFW is console specific and Memory Pit is specific to certain version ranges, but otherwise it's good.
Memory Pit's versions are:

Versions 1.0 - 1.3 (USA, EUR, AUS, JPN)
Versions 1.4 - 1.4.5 (USA, EUR, AUS, JPN)
All versions (KOR, CHN)

So as long as your current console and the new one use the same version of memory pit it'll work, otherwise you'll have to switch if you're using it.

Homebrew DSi hacking: everything you need to know about it and more

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